Georgia Farm Bureau News Alert - June 1, 2016

June 1, 2016

www.gfb.org

Vol. 34 No. 22

CAES DEAN SAM PARDUE SPEAKS TO GFB DIRECTORS Getting students who want to study agriculture at the University of Georgia admitted to the university and educating consumers that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are safe are two of the main challenges Sam Pardue, the new dean and director of UGA’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, is gearing up to tackle.

Pardue, who started his job March 14, visited with the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors May 26 during their monthly meeting.

Pardue acknowledged that it has become more difficult for students to be accepted to UGA as test scores and grade point averages for entering freshmen have risen in recent years.

“I am a big believer in the land grant mission. I’m a product of it. They were created with a specific mission in mind, and we will provide ways for students who want to study agriculture to have an opportunity to come to UGA whether it is at the Tifton, Griffin or Athens campus,” Sam Pardue Pardue said. “The flip side is you have to help me get the students there.

Start working with students in middle school [to meet the entrance requirements]. Our good friends in athletics start recruiting in middle school. There’s no reason we can’t.”

Pardue shared that during a recent visit to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Georgia’s U.S. Congressional delegation, members of the delegation asked for the CAES to help educate consumers about the science behind GMOs and that they’re safe.

“I’m amazed at highly educated people who don’t understand the basic principles of production agriculture,” Pardue said. “It’s a dangerous thing when 99 percent of the people who vote don’t understand how we grow their food. The college needs to do a better job of educating consumers that we produce safe and abundant food, especially on the GMO issue. I hope we’ll be a data driven college and tell the truth whatever it is, and the truth today is that GMOs are safe and don’t negatively impact humans.”

The CAES can help farmers meet the challenge of lower commodity prices by continuing research that helps farmers produce their crops and raise livestock as efficiently and cost effective as possible, Pardue said.

The same goes for addressing climate variability issues that farmers face with erratic weather patterns.

Pardue said one of the reasons he wanted to come to UGA to serve as CAES dean was because of the passion Georgia’s ag community has for its livelihood and the diversity of Georgia -continued

GFB News Alert page 2 of 11 Continued from previous page agriculture.

“My hope is that all nine departments in the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences will make you proud in research and produce bright young students ready to enter the work force,” Pardue said.

Pardue expressed appreciation for the working relationship GFB and the CAES have had.

“I am grateful we have a wonderful partnership with Georgia Farm Bureau that has spanned many years,” he said. “We have a common purpose in many ways. I know the history of what Georgia Farm Bureau has done for the college and university, and I’m excited about what we’ll do together in the future.”

Pardue comes to UGA after spending 27 years at North Carolina State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He most recently served as associate dean and director of academic programs since 2012 and chaired the NC State Poultry Science Department for seven years prior. He earned his bachelor’s degree in poultry science and his master’s and doctoral degrees, both in physiology at NC State. During his time as a poultry researcher, he conducted research with $2.5 million in external funding and received three patents for his work. He and his wife, Stacy, have two adult children, a daughter Caitlin, and son, Taylor.

PEACHY SUMMER ON THE WAY IN GEORGIA Get your sweet tooth ready. It’s going to be a peachy summer in Georgia.

Growers from the state’s main commercial peach-producing farms say the combination of cold weather in January and late February combined with mild weather in March positioned them for their biggest crop in years.

“We have not had this size of a peach crop in many years, so everybody’s pretty excited out on the farms,” said Will McGehee of Genuine Georgia, a cooperative of five major Georgia peach farms. “This is going to be a good year.”

All summer long, then, Georgians will be able to get the delicious fruit for eating fresh, baking pies, canning or making jams and jellies. Peaches and many other summertime favorites like watermelons, tomatoes and sweet corn are available across the state at Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Markets (CFMs).

Georgia peach growers produce more than 40 varieties of peaches, and they reach maturity at various times into August. This provides consumers access to plenty of peaches wherever they choose to buy them, whether it’s in the nearest CFM or at their local grocery store. There are 27 CFMs offering peaches, from Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge on the state’s northern border to Lawson Peaches in Morven on the state line at Florida and numerous markets between.

“The Certified Farm Markets program is one way we work to connect our farmers with consumers,” said GFB President Gerald Long. “Visitors at our CFMs can get the freshest fruits and vegetables possible. Many of them offer the opportunity for customers to pick their own fruit and enjoy activities on the farm.”

In all, there are nearly 90 CFMs scattered around the state, providing consumers with direct access to every crop grown the state. To find a CFM near you visit http://www.gfb.org/commodities/cfm/directory/CertifiedFarmMarketSearch.asp.

GFB News Alert page 3 of 11 GILES, 6TH DISTRICT FIELD REP., RETIRES AFTER 37 YEARS WITH GFB On May 31, former Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) 6th District Field Representative Don Giles shut the gate on his almost 37-year career with the organization and drove into retirement. Giles, whose district includes 16 counties in Middle Georgia, sat down with GFB media May 20 to reflect on his Farm Bureau career.

“A field rep is the liaison between the county Farm Bureau and the home office. We wear a lot of different hats. Part of our job is working with the county office staff. A large part of it is working with the volunteer leaders,” Giles said. “Every day is a little bit different.

We have a lot of challenges.”

Working with Farm Bureau people was the most rewarding part of his job, Giles said.

“I love the people that I work with. I think ag people are just like family. It’s been real rewarding, very close relationships that I’ve built,” Giles said. “What I’ll miss the most are the people. I won’t miss the deadlines, but I’ll miss the people.”

Don Giles When asked what he would tell Farm Bureau volunteers and staff if they were all in a room together, Giles answered, “I’d tell them that I love everyone of them. That they’re part of my family and a big part of my life and to keep working and promoting Farm Bureau because it’s the right thing to do. I would tell the volunteers and leaders to stay true to the organization’s purpose and continue to be a grassroots organization.”

And his district leaders, county staff and volunteers return that sentiment toward Giles.

“Don’s legacy will be that he’s a friend of Farm Bureau and a friend of the people he came in contact with,” said Laurens County Farm Bureau President James Malone, who also serves as a GFB 6th District Director on the organization’s state board. “He’s a good Christian man, and he’s just a joy to work with. That’s the legacy he leaves with me.”

Giles said it’s important that Farm Bureau volunteers remember the leaders who came before them who laid the groundwork for the organization that exists today.

“It’s important to keep telling the farm story. There are a tremendous number of consumers and young people out there who don’t know the importance of agriculture.”

Giles’ parents, Frank and Susie, owned an agribusiness center in Unadilla where he grew up.

When Don was a teenager his father encouraged him and his other three brothers to pursue careers outside of agriculture because of how tough farming and agribusiness was. But Giles said agriculture was in his blood and he and two of his brothers choose careers in agriculture.

“When I’ve been asked about what I do, I would always say I have a job that allows me to work with the best folks in the world – farm families – and be as close to farming as I can without actually putting the seed in soil or caring for the livestock,” Giles said.

Giles credits fellow GFB employees, like the late Bob Marlowe who worked in the GFB Commodities Department, and numerous volunteers for teaching him how Farm Bureau works as an organization and about farming.

-continued

GFB News Alert page 4 of 11 Continued from previous page “When I came to Farm Bureau I really didn’t understand what Farm Bureau was about.

Volunteer leaders across the state helped me to understand different parts of agriculture and how to deal with people,” Giles said.

Before starting with GFB, Giles sold ag chemicals for Triangle Chemical. When he began his Farm Bureau journey on June 18, 1979, the way Farm Bureau conducted business was very different from today. There were no cell phones or computers, and once a week he was expected to work one of the hog sale barns GFB operated at the time. Back then, GFB sold farm supplies through its service company, and Giles recalls oftenhe had so many harrow discs in his car that it dragged the ground.

“I learned really quick with this job that it gave me the opportunity to serve other people and to serve a group of agricultural people and rural people – great people,” said Giles. “That’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed for 37 years.”

Sometimes serving Farm Bureau members resulted in legendary stories. At the first farm day he helped with in Telfair County, the two cattle yearlings brought for students to see pushed their way out of their pen and proceeded to wander through Helena and part of McRae. “Being young at that time I gave chase,” Giles recalls. “We eventually did catch one, but cowboys and horses were brought in to catch the other.”

In the mid-1980s, when a severe drought caused a devastating hay shortage across Georgia, Farm Bureau helped orchestrate a hay lift to bring hay into Georgia from other parts of the country. One day Giles was in Eastman helping the late Doug Chastain, a GFB Commodities staff member, and Mac Harrington, who was the Dodge County Farm Bureau president at the time, unload hay for local farmers.

“We were left to finish unloading a train boxcar of hay. It was great alfalfa hay from Arizona, but it was heavy square bales. Doug came up with the idea to release the brakes of the car so it would move a little closer to where we wanted it unloaded,” Giles said. “The car got to moving faster than we thought. It takes a while to tighten the brakes down. Mac’s pickup was sitting by the track with the driver’s door open, and the boxcar was moving faster than Mac could run.

Needless to say the boxcar took off Mac’s door, but he did have good insurance [Farm Bureau].”

Giles offered this advice for his replacement: “They need to have a servant’s heart; they need to do what’s right, and they need to build relationships. If they can do those three things, then they’ll have a long successful career with Farm Bureau.”

That’s the game plan Giles followed during his career and it resulted in county staff thinking highly of him.

“I’ve known Don for 33 years and I had a great working relationship with him,” said Laurens County Farm Bureau Office Manager Mary Morris. “It didn’t matter what I asked him to do, he was always there ready to help me no matter how large or how small the job was. We’ve worked through a lot of changes since I’ve been here.”

Giles begins his retirement with plans to do volunteer work and spend more time with his wife, Ramona.

“We will continue to be active in the church. I do have a son [Jeremy] and daughter-in-law and a wonderful granddaughter who live in Columbia, Tennessee, and she wants to see her pops more,” Giles said. “I wouldn’t rule out anything. I’m young enough and feel well enough to do something. I will not go home and sit down.”

Notes of congratulations may be sent via email to thegiles@comsouth.net or 149 Duskin Dr., Cochran, GA 31014.

GFB News Alert page 5 of 11 SUPREME COURT RULING GIVES LANDOWNERS LITIGATION OPTION On May 31 a unanimous Supreme Court ruled landowners may challenge the federal government whenever the Army Corps of Engineers tries improperly to control land with regulations designed to protect water.

Landowners have attempted many times to challenge Corps rulings known as jurisdictional determinations, but the government successfully argued that those determinations were not "final agency actions" and the lawsuits were dismissed. Now, when the Corps asserts jurisdiction over low spots that look more like land than water, it will have to do so with the knowledge that its jurisdictional determination can be tested in court.

“Today's decision removes a huge roadblock that has prevented landowners from obtaining relief from the courts when the Corps illegally claims their land is federally regulated water,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Now, farmers and ranchers can have their day in court when the government tells them they cannot plow a field or improve a ditch without a federal permit.”

AFBF filed friend of the court briefs in the lower court and the Supreme Court in support of the plaintiffs, who were represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation. The case was titled United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc. The ruling builds on another unanimous ruling, Sackett v. EPA. The Court recognized that once the Corps finds that a landscape feature is a “water of the United States,” there are immediate and often dire legal consequences to the landowner. A farmer can continue a farming activity that results in an unlawful discharge and face an enforcement action with civil fines up to $37,500 a day per discharge, or even criminal penalties. Or, the farmer can spend tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars seeking federal Clean Water Act permits over several years only to have the permit ultimately denied.

USDA EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR FARM RESTRUCTURING TO JULY 1 The USDA announced a one-time, 30-day extension to the June 1 deadline for recording farm organization structures related to the “actively engaged” rule in the 2014 farm bill, according to a May 27 USDA press release. This date is used to determine the level of interest an individual holds in a legal entity for the applicable program year. Farming operations will now have until July 1 to complete their restructuring or finalize any operational change. The USDA issued the extension in response to farmers and ranchers who requested more time to comply, though it fell well short of what ag groups had requested.

Georgia Farm Bureau and a group of other state Farm Bureaus had asked Vilsack to extend the deadline to Dec. 31, noting that the FSA notice outlining changes to the actively engaged rule wasn’t sent until March 28, after most farm operations had made planting decisions for the 2016 crop year.

The 2014 farm bill gave the secretary the direction and authority to amend the actively engaged rules related to management. The final rule established limits on the number of individuals who can qualify as actively engaged using only management.

The rule does not apply to farming operations comprised entirely of family members. The rule also does not change the existing regulations related to contributions of land, capital, equipment or labor, or the existing regulations related to landowners with a risk in the crop or to spouses.

Producers who planted fall crops have until the 2017 crop year to comply with the new rules.

The payment limit associated with Farm Service Agency farm payments is generally limited annually to $125,000 per individual or entity.

GFB News Alert page 6 of 11 VILSACK SAYS MANDATORY GMO LABELING IS NEEDED Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told an organic growers group that mandatory nationwide labeling is needed for products that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), according to published reports.

Georgia Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation have supported voluntary GMO labeling that would preempt any state laws requiring GMO labeling. Vermont has such a law that goes into effect July 1. Without a national standard, Vermont’s law would effectively become the national standard until other states pass their own legislation. Some major food companies have already begun using labels that comply with the Vermont law.

On May 25 during a speech at the Organic Trade Association’s policy conference in Washington, D.C., Vilsack said the time has come to act and called for a national mandatory labeling standard.

“They need to establish, in my view, a mandatory system. One that is flexible and has options and one that is timely,” Vilsack said, according to a report on Food Navigator.

The U.S. House passed a national voluntary labeling bill in 2015. In March, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on a similar bill, preventing the full Senate from voting on the bill.

U.S. AG GROUP SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH CUBAN COUNTERPARTS The U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC) announced on May 26 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Grupo Empresarial Agricola (GEA) to promote increased cooperation and dialogue between the U.S. and Cuban agricultural sectors.

USACC, a coalition of America’s leading agricultural organizations and companies dedicated to normalizing U.S.-Cuban trade relations, signed the MOU during the organization’s second “Learning Journey” to the island nation. GEA was designated as the appropriate counterpart to USACC by the Cuban government.

“We believe this memorandum serves as a foundation for the mutual advancement of the agrarian economies of both our countries,” said USACC Chair Devry Boughner Vorwerk. “The MOU is designed to be inclusive, encouraging cooperation and dialogue that will benefit everyone along the agricultural continuum—from investors to farmers in the field.”

According to the USACC, the MOU aims to cooperate in the following areas of agriculture development: agriculture financing and credit; two-way trade; production; processing; logistics and distribution; investment; sustainability; research and development and farmer training.

“At its core, this memorandum is a mutual commitment to learning,” said former U. S. Secretary Agriculture Mike Espy. “This MOU builds on the experiences culled from last year’s Learning Journey and what we discovered during that trip was an overwhelming desire on the part of both U.S. and Cuban agricultural organizations and enterprises for normalization of commercial ties in food and agriculture. We hope this memorandum helps to drive us toward that goal—and that policymakers in both countries—particularly those in Congress—join us in this effort.”

GFB News Alert page 7 of 11 COTTON INC., PLANT MANAGEMENT NETWORK RELEASE WEBINARS Cotton Incorporated and the Plant Management Network have teamed up to bring the cotton growing community a series of ‘Focus on Cotton’ webcasts on various aspects of cotton crop management. These half-hour talks are accessible online and cover agronomic practices, crop protection, and ag engineering.

One webinar, led by University of Tennessee Associate Professor Brian Leib, covers selection and use of sensors for cotton irrigation management in humid regions. It is intended to help cotton consultants, county agents, growers and other practitioners improve irrigation practices by installing sensors to monitor real-time soil moisture. To access this webinar visit http://tinyurl.com/sensorwebinar.

Another webinar, led by UGA Associate Professor Michael Toews, covers management of thrips. The webinar is intended to give cotton consultants, county agents, growers, and other practitioners with research data indicating how different thrips management strategies contribute to improved plant growth, plant health, and overall yield. To access this webinar visit http://tinyurl.com/thripswebinar.

The third webinar, led by Kansas State Economist Terry Griffin, addresses how to capture value from precision agriculture data. It is intended to help cotton consultants, growers, and other practitioners understand how consolidated farm-level data will be increasingly used to identify trends, drive pricing structures, and help growers set best practices. To access this webinar visit http://tinyurl.com/agdatawebinar.

EPA INSPECTOR GENERAL TO PROBE ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN FUNDING The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office of Inspector General (OIG) will conduct an audit of the agency’s funding of an environmental campaign.

The environmental group, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Council, conducted a grassroots media campaign accusing farmers of polluting water. The funding from the grant was used to pay for services of a Seattle public relations firm, which in turn put up two billboards and a website criticizing farmers and directing the public to criticize farmers in communications with lawmakers. The group did not disclose that the funding for the billboards was provided by the EPA. According to an EPA memo between the OIG and EPA’s Regional Administrator in the Northwest, the audit is being done at the request of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, which expressed concerns over apparent improper funding of the campaign, called What’s Upstream, which the committee said demonizes farmers and ranchers.

The audit will seek to determine whether the EPA followed applicable laws, regulations and policies in awarding the funding for the campaign and in its oversight. Also at issue is whether the environmental group, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission followed all applicable rules, as well as whether there were any costs associated with the campaign that are not allowed and whether the EPA had any communication with the environmental group about the campaign.

GFB News Alert page 8 of 11 ALFALFA WORKSHOPS/FIELD DAYS June 2 Hall Co. (to RSVP, call 770-535-8293) June 9 Putnam Co. (to RSVP, call 706-485-4151) UGA Extension will host these events, which will focus on how to successfully use alfalfa, including how to grow your own nitrogen and feed supplement by interseeding alfalfa into Bermudagrass. Subjects covered include: site selection, establishment protocol, soil fertility, trait selection, harvest management, and how to use this high quality and cost-effective crop.

Attendees will visit fields where alfalfa is growing in each of these counties. Cost of the one-day workshops is $10 and includes lunch, an “Alfalfa in the South” notebook and other publications on alfalfa production and use in the South. To register, call the County Extension Offices at the phone numbers listed above.

GEORGIA BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL June 3-4 Alma This locally organized festival celebrates the importance of the blueberry crop to Alma and Bacon County. The event officially begins at 1 p.m. on June 3 with speakers and entertainment at Goldwasser Park. June 4 activities include a 5K run, the blueberry pancake breakfast, the blueberry parade and the annual blueberry pie eating contest. Copies of Bacon County Farm Bureau’s book, “Hi, I’m Billy Blueberry – This is My Story” will be available at the Farm Bureau tent. For more information visit http://georgiablueberryfestival.org/ TEAM AG GEORGIA SPRING WORKSHOP June 16 West Georgia Technical College, 176 Murphy Campus Rd. Waco This free one-day workshop for small, beginning and limited-resource farmers will feature sessions on beekeeping, goats and sheep, small farm financing, government programs and more.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a farm tour. Lunch will be provided. To attend the workshop register by June 8 by calling 912-367-7679 or sending an email to sevenrivers@bellsouth.net.

GEORGIA/ALABAMA SEED ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING July 10-11 King & Prince Resort St. Simons Island Georgia Farm Bureau Assistant Legislative Director Tas Smith will speak about the EPA’s Waters of the U.S. rule at this annual event, which also features presentations on food safety, GMOs, labeling and irrigation. Registration is $175 until June 10 and $225 after for adults, $50 until June 10 and $75 after for youth ages 5-17. For more information or to register contact Billy Skaggs at wdskaggs@gmail.com or 770-519-7124.

2016 ACADEMY OF CROP PRODUCTION June 12-15 Hotel Indigo Athens This four-day conference will focus on information about advanced ornamental crop production and business management techniques for ornamental producers. The event will be hosted by the University of Georgia and the Georgia Green Industry Association. The program will include 18 presentations on topics such as government regulations, weed control, research variety trials, tools, marketing and more. Registration is $400 per person. Pesticide CEU credits are available.

The event room rate is $109 per night. To reserve a hotel room call 706-546-0430 and use booking code “UGA Horticulture Commercial Agriculture.” For more information visit http://tinyurl.com/GGIAcademy.

GFB News Alert page 9 of 11 2016 GEORGIA-FLORIDA TOBACCO TOUR June 13-15 Live Oak, Fla. – Baxley, Ga. This annual tour provides up-to-date information on variety trials, control of tomato spotted wilt virus, blue mold controls and much more. The tour will begin with a kick-off supper in Live Oak at 7 p.m. on June 13. For more information or to register, visit http://tinyurl.com/gftobaccotour or contact Dr. J. Michael Moore at 229-386-3006 or jmmoore@uga.edu.

NOMINATIONS FOR GA AG COMMISSION BOARD MEMBERS June 15 Deadline for nominations The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commissions for Beef, Cotton, Equine and Tobacco are accepting nominations to fill several positions for each commodity commission board with term lengths of three years. To be nominated a person must be an active and qualified Georgia producer of the commodity. The Beef Commission has five positions open for nominations, the Cotton and Equine Commissions each have two positions and the Tobacco Commission has one position. By statute three of the Beef Commission’s positions are to be beef producers, one a dairy producer and one a livestock marketer. Agricultural commodity commissions are farmerfunded programs to enhance research, promotion and education, and are authorized under Georgia law by the Commodity Promotions Act. Nominations can be made by producers of the applicable commodity by filling out a Nominee Information Form available for download at: www.agr.georgia.gov/cpf. The completed form should be mailed to: Georgia Department of Agriculture 19 MLK Jr. Drive SW Room 320 Atlanta, GA 30334 no later than June 15. It may also be faxed to 404-656-9380, or emailed to andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov.

AGAWARE MARKETING WORKSHOP June 17 UGA Griffin Campus 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Griffin This free workshop sponsored by AgSouth Farm Credit is designed for produce farmers and processed and value-added products. Keynote Speaker Matt Kulinski of the Georgia Department of Agriculture will discuss marketing products, product registration, creating business plans, licensing and certifications. Lunch will be provided. To register, contact Rhonda Jernigan at rjernigan@agsouthfc.com or 912-489-4842, ext. 2644.

USDA VALUE-ADDED PRODUCER GRANTS June 24 electronic applications due July 1 paper applications due The USDA is making up to $44 million available to farmers, ranchers and businesses to develop new bio-based products and expand markets through the Value-Added Producer Grant program.

Value-Added Producer Grants may be used to develop new products and create additional uses for existing ones. The deadline to submit paper applications is July 1. Electronic applications submitted through grants.gov are due June 24. For more information about the Value-Added Producer Grants or to submit an application, visit http://tinyurl.com/VAPGrants.

GFB News Alert page 10 of 11 MIDDLE GEORGIA SPROUTS SUMMER CAMP June 27-29 Houston County Extension office 9 a.m. – noon Perry The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office in Houston County, in partnership with Master Gardener Extension Volunteers, is holding this summer camp for children who have completed Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade. This three-day experience will introduce youth to the wonder of gardening through a series of activities and books. Cost for the camp is $20 per child.

Registration is required. Contact the Extension Office in Houston County at 478-987-2028 for complete details. Space is limited, so register early!

SYNGENTA #ROOTED IN AG CONTEST June 30 deadline to enter Syngenta is accepting applications for its #RootedinAg contest. The contest asks growers and other industry professionals to describe how their agricultural roots help their families and communities thrive. The five best entries will each receive a mini touch-screen tablet. From those finalists, one grand prize winner will receive a $500 gift card, plus Syngenta will make a $1,000 donation in the winner’s name to a local charity or civic organization. To apply, visit http://tinyurl.com/rootedinag. Syngenta will then post all finalists’ entries at http://tinyurl.com/syngentathrive and ask visitors to help choose the grand prizewinner by voting for their favorite. These votes, along with the judges’ scores, will determine the winner. Online voting ends Sept. 15, with Syngenta announcing the grand prizewinner in October.

2016 FARM SAFETY CAMP July 28 UGA Griffin, Stuckey Auditorium 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Griffin This fun-filled day of learning for children ages 8-13 covers stranger danger, boating safety, small animal safety, general farm safety and much more. Cost is $5 per child, and $1 for each additional child in the same family. Fee includes lunch, snacks and drinks. Preregistration by the July 11 deadline guarantees a t-shirt and a goody bag with take-home materials. For more information contact Cindy Vandiver at 770-228-2341 or Shelby Reese at 770-461-3436.

SUNBELT AG EXPO FIELD DAY July 14 Sunbelt Expo, Spence Field 7:15 a.m.

Moultrie This annual preview of projects at the Darrell Williams Research Farm begins with a complimentary biscuit breakfast, with remarks from Georgia Farm Bureau Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary Jon Huffmaster. Tram tours begin at 8 a.m. and a complimentary grab-and-go barbecue lunch is scheduled for noon. For more information visit www.sunbeltexpo.com/field-day/.

18th ANNUAL SOUTHERN PEANUT GROWERS CONFERENCE July 21-23 Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Miramar Beach, Fla. This three-day event provides farmers with information on peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotions. In addition to the conference sessions, the event offers a ladies program and a golf tournament. For information on registration and accommodations, visit http://tinyurl.com/16sopnutconf.

GFB News Alert page 11 of 11 ONGOING FARM BUREAU-SPONSORED FARMERS MARKETS MONROE FARMERS MARKET Saturdays until Oct. 8 Court Street 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Monroe This market, sponsored in part by Walton County Farm Bureau, will feature fresh produce and goods from local farmers, work from local artisans and family friendly activities. For more information visit www.monroedowntownfarmersmarket.com COBB COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS MARKET Tuesdays beginning May 24 Lost Mountain Park 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

Powder Springs Cobb County Farm Bureau (CCFB) in cooperation with Cobb County Parks and Recreation will host this farmers market. CCFB is offering vendor space to farmers, growers, and producers in Cobb and surrounding counties, with the goal of offering locally grown produce and food to the community and to engage the community about where their food comes from as well as support Cobb County farmers. Each vendor must be a member of Farm Bureau. Vendor fees will be waived in lieu of this membership. For more information contact Market Manager Sonia Lopez at twobytwofarms@comcast.net or 770-608-1119 or Debbie Payne at dmpayne@gfb.org or 770943-3531.

SHIELDS-ETHRIDGE HERITAGE FARM CULTIVATORS’ MARKET June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15 and Nov. 19 Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

2355 Ethridge Rd. Jefferson Jackson County Farm Bureau (JCFB) is sponsoring this monthly open-air market that will allow local farmers and entrepreneurs to sell products they make or grow in a festival atmosphere.

Market will be held rain or shine. The Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm is an outdoor ag museum that functions as an educational and interpretative facility. Proceeds from the market will be used for restoration projects at the farm. If you are interested in having a booth at the market, contact JCFB Office Manager Denise Temple at dftemple@gfb.org or call 706-367-8877 or visit www.shieldsethridgefarminc.com to complete an application online.

PAULDING COUNTY FARM BUREAU FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays through Oct. 28 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

Paulding County High School Paulding County Farm Bureau is accepting vendors for its weekly farmers market. There is no fee to participate but vendors must be Farm Bureau members so that the market qualifies as a Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market. If you would like to participate in the PCFB Farmer’s Market, please contact Tracy Grice at Paulding County Farm Bureau at 770-445-6681 or email her at tcgrice@gfb.org. Vendors may sell locally grown produce or other ag commodities or homemade crafts. Paulding County High School is located at 1297 Villa Rica Hwy., Dallas, Ga. 30132.

DODGE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET Saturdays Dodge County Courthouse 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Eastman This open-air market, sponsored in part by Dodge County Farm Bureau, features locally produced meats, vegetables, eggs and artisanal crafts. For more information contact market manager T.I. Papel at 478-374-5895 or tipapel@bellsouth.net, or visit www.facebook.com/dodgecountyfarmersmarket.